Basic UNIX 4: More on the GUI ● How X works ● Window and desktop managers ● File managers ● Common tasks ● System administration tools
Iowa State University Information Technology Services Last update 1/29/2008 by jbalvanz How X works
● X server (X) – Provides tools for drawing graphics on a display – X applications send commands to the X server via TCP/IP ● X client – Machine running the software that wants to draw graphics – Usually the machine running the server, but doesn't have to be! How this looks Server Client
Application package
X Server
TCP/IP TCP/IP Stack Stack Network Why is this good?
● Applications are independent of graphics hardware, window manager and even hardware platform ● Server and client do not have to be on the same machine; applications can be run remotely – Licensing considerations – Horsepower restrictions Running X applications remotely ● Connect to a remote machine using ssh with the -X option (not -x)
ssh -X [email protected]
● Start the application
sas Window managers
● Manages positioning of windows on the screen, virtual desktops, running applications; may include menus – AfterStep – Blackbox – Enlightenment Display Driver – FVWM Window Manager – IceWM – WindowMaker X Server – etc., etc., etc., etc. TCP/IP Stack
Desktop Environments
● Window management + system utilities + standard applications + games + menuing system + ???????? – GNOME Desktop – K Desktop Environment (KDE) – Microsoft Windows What you'll have to get used to... ● Users have a choice of window/desktop manager (even in the stock RedHat install) ● Many desktop managers are themeable, i.e., FVWM may look completely different from FVWM on another machine depending on the choice of theme Why choice is good...
● The window manager can be selected based on the horsepower of the machine – Gnome, KDE run well on big, modern hardware – Blackbox, FVWM, IceWM, SWM, etc. run better on older machines Choice is good II
● International users can customize their WM with non-English languages ● A choice of window manager/theme gives users something harmless to customize their environment with ● Windows users can have a Windows- like DM (FVWM with RedmondXP or Redmond98)
Choosing a Window Manger
● On startup – choose from the “Session” menu in the login screen ● Set a user default – insert PREFERRED=”windowmanagerapp” into ~/.Xclients ● Setting system default – put DESKTOP=”KDE” DESKTOP=”GNOME” DESKTOP=”windowmanagerapp” into /etc/sysconfig/desktop Switching Between Windows
● Varies; most modern WM accept the Windows
● Used to be an application in the menu, left out in new version ● Graphics > The GIMP ● Choose File > Acquire > Screen Shot ● Choose window or entire screen ● Click OK ● Save the file as an appropriate graphics type Setting the Time ● Select System -> Administration -> Date & Time ● Enter the root password ● Make sure that the time zone is set correctly for your location ● If not Internet connected, turn off “Enable Network Time Protocol” and set time and date; otherwise, just select a time server (time.iastate.edu works fine) Moving the Panels
● Right-click on the panel ● Choose Properties ● Click “General” ● Under Orientation, choose where you'd like the panel to appear. ● Under Size, choose the panel height in pixels. ● Click Apply, then OK. Editing the Menus
● Right-click on the Applications menu ● Select “Edit Menus” ● You can: – Add sub-menus and items – Remove items – Rearrange entries ● You cannot change the Places menu. Adding a Menu Item
● Highlight the folder you want the item to appear in ● Click “New Item” ● Enter the values for the program: – Name – Comment – Command (with options if necessary) ● Click Close Moving a Menu Item
● Click on the item to be moved ● Either – Move up or down with the Move Up and Move Down buttons OR – Click, hold and drag the icon to its new location Desktop Preferences
● Under System -> Preferences ● Most Gnome preferences are user- oriented and don't require root access. ● Useful preferences: – About Me – personal information – Desktop Background – Remote Desktop – desktop sharing System Administration
● Choose System -> Administration ● Choices beyond the user, so need the root password ● We'll work with many of these things in the System Administration modules Assistive Technology
● Gnome comes with assistive technology built in ● System -> Preferences -> Accessibility -> Keyboard – enables special keyboard features (slow/sticky/mouse keys) ● System -> Preferences -> Accessibility -> Assistive Technology Support – activate screen magnifier, on-screen keyboard and audio screenreader (Gnopernicus) Why KDE?
● One of the two desktop environments installed by Red Hat Enterprise Linux ● More Windows-like than Gnome ● Has most complete set of applets and management tools ● Default file manager (Konqueror) works better with AFS volumes than Nautilus (Gnome) KDE Control Center
● Used to make a wide variety of system settings in KDE ● Select “Control Center” from the Start Applications Menu Appearance and Themes
● Background ● Screen Savers ● Styles ● Theme Manager Desktop
● Behavior – What mouse clicks do – What devices appear on the desktop – Show previews for files ● Multiple Desktops ● Panels – Where the KDE Panel appears Peripherals
● Digital Camera ● Display – Screen size, refresh rate and orientation (where applicable) ● Mouse ● Printers – CUPS server must be running Mousing Without a Mouse
● Must turn on in Control Center under Peripherals -> Mouse ● Press
● To actually make changes here, you'll need the root password. (Click “Administrator Mode”.) ● Font Installer ● Login Manager – Customize the login screen – Sessions – control who can shut down machine from the console or remotely Settings
● About Myself – stores personal information (real name, phone number, default shell, etc.) ● Password – sets new password (including the Kerberos password, if Kerberos is used for authentication) System Settings
● Administration -> Server Settings -> Services Used to start, stop and control system services – See info about a service: highlight the service name – Start/stop a service: highlight the name, click the start or stop buttons – Schedule a service to start at machine startup: turn on the check box to the left of the service name – Actually runs system-config-services System -> Add/Remove Software ● Used to install and remove programs from the Red Hat CDs ● To install a package, click details, the check box next to the package name, click Close, then click Update. ● To remove a package, click Details, clear the check box next to the package name, click Close, then click Update. WindowMaker
● Window manager (not a desktop environment) – Lower overhead, good choice for smaller machines – No applets to clutter screen, take up CPU time ● Part of GNUStep project, derived from OpenStep, derived from NeXTStep (which also was the origin of Mac OS X) Where's the Start Menu?
● Everywhere! Just right-click on the Desktop. ● Move the menu to make it stick ● Sub-menus can be dragged off the menu to stick independently The Dock
● Double-click on icon to launch app (if 3 dots appear) ● To add icons, open an app and drag its icon to the Dock, then enter the command to start it ● Drag icon out of Dock to remove ● “Screwdriver” icon starts the WindowMaker Preferences tool ● Many dockapps are available Handling Windows
● Left title-bar button minimizes (double-click icon below to restore) ● Right title-bar button closes ● Double-click title bar to windowshade ● Right-click-and-hold title bar to get window menu Workspaces in WindowMaker ● Only one workspace at startup, create new workspaces as necessary ● From Application menu, choose Workspaces -> New ● Use the Application menu or arrows on the Clip to switch workspaces ● To remove a workspace, empty it, leave it and choose Workspaces > Destroy Last The Failsafe WM
● Failsafe is an extremely primitive window manager ● You may find yourself in Failsafe when KDE and/or Gnome get corrupted somehow ● To exit Failsafe, press